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The principal factors and activities in the production of automotive fuels which have synthetic hydrocarbon constituents and alcohol fuels derived from coal are traced and discussed in detail. These include selection of reference raw materials, syncrude compositions for a variety of candidate conversion processes, and finished automotive fuels composition based upon domestic fuel demand projections for the time frame 1985-2000. In addition, those fuel-engine relationships pertinent to developing optimized automotive systems are discussed in relation to anticipated developments in propulsion systems technology. Projected compositions and performance of finished specification-quality automotive fuels for this time frame are not expected to differ significantly from those for today's fuels since it is anticipated that coal- or shale-derived syncrudes will be blended with dominant petroleum crudes at conventional petroleum refineries rather than at plants dedicated to the exclusive refining of synthetic crudes. Consequently, excessive undesirable compounds can be diluted to acceptable specifications levels by proportionate blending with petroleum feedstocks. (ERA citation 03:050653)